SAN FRANCISCO, April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing air travel, today announces that it will expand its schedule to two daily nonstop roundtrips between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and its home base at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as of July 8, 2014. Known for inventive amenities like fleetwide WiFi, power outlets and personal touch-screen entertainment platforms at every seat, Virgin America has grown a following of loyal tech-forward guests in the Austin market. The airline first introduced service between the innovation capitals of Austin and San Franciscoin May 2013.

"Since entering the Austin market nearly a year ago, we've seen strong demand for our award-winning guest service and business friendly in-flight amenities," said John MacLeod, Virgin America's Senior Vice President of Planning and Sales. "Austin and San Francisco enjoy strong business ties and a cultural affinity –– so expansion on this route makes sense for both our business and leisure guests."

* New flight effective 8 July 2014 (eastbound) through 6 September 2014 (westbound)

The new morning Austin departure is timed to be convenient for business travelers originating in Austin. Connecting flights will be available from Austin to the carrier's Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland, and Las Vegas destinations.

Earlier today, Virgin America was named the best airline in 2013 in the Airline Quality Rating, a joint research project conducted annually by faculty at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University that looks at airlines' on-time performance and baggage handling, involuntary denied boarding and the customer complaint rates as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

With top-notch guest service, beautiful design and a variety of innovative amenities, Virgin America has earned a host of industry awards since launching service in 2007. Virgin America offers guests sleek, tech-forward aircraft cabins with custom-designed seating, fleetwide in-flight WiFi, signature moodlighting, power outlets near every seat and the Red™ in-flight entertainment system. The Red™ platform offers guests on every Virgin America flight their own seatback screen, with 25 films, live TV, interactive Google Maps, videogames, a 6,000 song library and an on-demand menu, which allows flyers to order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight.

In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline's First Class offers white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers. The carrier's Main Cabin Select option offers 38-inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media content, dedicated overhead bins and priority check-in/boarding. In 2012, Virgin America opened its first airport lounge, The Loft at LAX, and rolled out enhancements to its Elevate frequent flyer program — including status levels.

Photos from Virgin America's 2013 Austin inaugural flight can be found here.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California's Silicon Valley and known for its mood-lit cabins, three beautifully designed classes of service and innovative fleetwide amenities — like touch-screen personal entertainment, WiFi and power outlets at every seat, Virgin America has built a loyal following of flyers and earned a host of awards since launching in 2007 — including being named both the "Best U.S. Airline" in Condé Nast Traveler'sReaders' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the past six consecutive years. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport (SFO)'s sleek and sustainable Terminal 2. Virgin America has created 2,700 jobs and flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA), Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs (seasonal), Philadelphia, Portland and Austin. The Red™ touch-screen entertainment platform offers guests on every Virgin America flight their own seatback screen, with 25 films, live TV, interactive Google Maps, videogames, a 6,000 song library and an on-demand menu, which allows flyers to order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline's First Class offers white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers. The carrier's Main Cabin Select option offers 38-inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media content, dedicated overhead bins and priority check-in/boarding.

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled and operated airline and is an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.